Jughead Jones is every other character on the show, he is not perfect. Usually a seeker of truth and justice, Jughead sometimes gets things completely and totally wrong and behaves like the quintessential, cringe-worthy "nice guy."
The teenager dons many hats: the storyteller's, the good boyfriend's, the gang leader's, the best friend's, and well, the list goes on. His attitude towards his relationships with Archie and Betty and his duty to the town of Riverdale has its highs and lows. The Pop's regular has his moments of toxic behavior, and times when he's a truly lovely person.
"Nice Guy": Tried To Profit Off Of His Friends' Traumas
Jughead is a budding author, but he chooses to write about his friends' lives and the murder of their loved ones without their consent. He writes his first book on Jason Blossom's murder and then tries to use Betty's life story about her father being the Black Hood for a Baxter Brothers novel.
When Betty (obviously) gets extremely upset when she discovers this, he justifies his usage of her past weakly and never apologizes for his mistake.
Good Person: Protested Peacefully For Southside High
Despite Juggie's connection with Riverdale High, he never forgets about the Serpents and their poorly funded school. He had to temporarily attend Southside High, and he protected the school when forever greedy Hiram Lodge tried to get it torn down.
Jughead organized a peaceful protest where he bound himself with the other Serpents to the school building, which was foiled by Archie on Hiram's orders. Jughead's actions were noble because he stood up for his community, and also forgave Archie later.
"Nice Guy": Used His Friends To Smuggle Drugs
In season 2 of Riverdale, Jughead is haunted by the favor FP owed to Penny Peabody, because as expected, she comes back to collect. The vicious gangster commands Jughead to smuggle drugs for her, which he agrees to.
However, instead of taking on the burden of a felony alone, he borrows Archie's truck, forces Archie to accompany him on the dangerous trip, and then tries to pull Betty into his crime as well. If Jughead cared for his friends he wouldn't risk their getting caught for his crimes.
Good Person: Gave FP Another Chance
In the first season of Riverdale, FP Jones is an irresponsible parent to Jughead. He constantly drinks, throws away jobs, gets caught up in the murder of a teenager, and his antics drive Jughead to homelessness. Few kids would ever give a parent another chance after they repeatedly ruined every chance they get.
But Jughead shows his maturity and empathy when he gives his father the last chance he ever asks for. FP seized the opportunity, cleaned up his act, and became a better parent.
"Nice Guy": Cut Off Penny's Tattoo
Without a doubt, one of the most despicable things that Jughead has done, cutting off Penny's tattoo as some kind of retribution or act of justice was just not alright.
Fans understand that Penny had inflicted worse damage on Jughead earlier with the Ghoulies, but the "eye for an eye" behavior is exactly what Jughead claims to be above.
Good Person: Showed Incredible Resilience While Homeless
For a seventeen-year-old, Jughead faced problems that most adults wouldn't handle as well as he does. He temporarily lived in a drive-in theater, and when that shut down he had no shelter over his head.
He could have made a big deal about his situation, but Jughead chose to be above the situation and handle it, all the while carrying on with school and not getting down.
"Nice Guy": Played Gryphons & Gargoyles Instead Of Rescuing Archie
While the younger Forsythe Jones has always been extremely forgiving with Archie and his past misdemeanors (Archie insulted him in front of Betty at Polly's baby shower, made fun of him several times, and kissed Betty), he left his friend in the lurch at the most important moment: when he was in jail.
While Veronica, Betty, and even Reggie planned and executed Archie's prison break from juvie, Jughead chose to stay out and played Gryphons and Gargoyles with a bunch of sketchy classmates.
Good Person: Devoted To Betty
Unlike most of his classmates, Jughead is quite focused on and devoted to his lady love. He did kiss Toni once, but apart from one small slip, he has been very clear that he loves Betty and chooses her over and over.
Even when Betty uses Archie to break up with Jughead for her, Jughead forgives her and doesn't eye the many other ladies at Riverdale. He is mostly a very good partner.
"Nice Guy": Kissed Veronica
He may only have eyes for Betty, but when Jughead finds out that she and Archie kissed when they were vulnerable and scared of the Black Hood, his reaction is petulant and strange.
Veronica suggests that she and Jughead should kiss to even things out, and Jughead defiantly agrees and kisses Veronica to make his friend and girlfriend feel bad. Not a good look.
Good Person: Used His Intelligence To Help People
Jughead is most students at Riverdale High. When he isn't writing a novel, he is using his intelligence to help the citizens of his town.
He spends a considerable amount of time poring over grainy videos, piecing together clues and hints to find out who is attacking his friends and their families, when he could just be relaxing like the rest of his friends, which is totally irable.